Hello everyone im new in this forum so im still trying to figure out how to work the website lol. But i need help i e been in this hobby for about a year now. I didnt kno much about testing the water or nothing like that but my fish r doint fine . I recently got into putting corrals but they i lost couple of them now, so i met this guy who showed me how to test the water n little by little helping me.lasg week i lost my jasmin polips i keep geeting brown algea my corals havent grown *** the guy said it would i dount kno wat im doing wrong i have a24 gal i been having coral for like 2 months now my water test is ph 8.2 amonia 0,nitrite 0, and nitrate 10 i just did a water change like 3. Weeks ago my nitrates was at 140i. Believe i dount have a skimmer does that make a difference on growing corals ?
Need lots of help
- Thread starter Flex06
- Start date
Steelergary
New member
Take your water to the local fish store and have them test it. That will give you a better idea of what's going on with you tank. Also reasearch any coral you are deciding to put in your tank as the requirements and care are explained.
I have led lighting whites n. Blues no moon light. they turn on at 11 am whites/blues by 9pm whites turn of n blues stay on till 11pm. Till now im not using alk ,mag, cal . A pet shop told me i dount really need to use it unless a have lots of coral is it true ? N ive taken my water to get tested but shops here are no help all they told me is they dount do test just salinity testing only . Is phosphate (ph) ? Is 8.2 how can i check if i have new messages on this forum i cant figure it out thanx.
And sorry for my dum questions i still have alot to learn
And sorry for my dum questions i still have alot to learn
billdogg
Well-known member
Where are you located? I have never heard of a LFS that tests only for salinity. I would suggest a good set of test kits. I prefer Salifert for ease of use and repeatablilty.
What make and model light? How often are you doing water changes? What brand salt? How are you measuring salinity? A swing-arm hydrometer or a refractometer? Are you using RO/DI water or tap? How much rock and what type of sand (if any)? The more information you can give us the more we will be able to help.
Your choice of fish for a 24g tank is totally inappropriate. There WILL BE aggression issues, and sooner rather than later. A single damsel needs at least a 50g tank, a pair of them at least 100g. The tomato clown might be ok in there, but will be pretty much the only fish you'll be able to keep.
As for learning what you need to know. There are stickies at the top of this forum. I would suggest starting there.
What make and model light? How often are you doing water changes? What brand salt? How are you measuring salinity? A swing-arm hydrometer or a refractometer? Are you using RO/DI water or tap? How much rock and what type of sand (if any)? The more information you can give us the more we will be able to help.
Your choice of fish for a 24g tank is totally inappropriate. There WILL BE aggression issues, and sooner rather than later. A single damsel needs at least a 50g tank, a pair of them at least 100g. The tomato clown might be ok in there, but will be pretty much the only fish you'll be able to keep.
As for learning what you need to know. There are stickies at the top of this forum. I would suggest starting there.
gone fishin
New member
In addition to what billdogg said, What type of corals are you trying to keep?
I saw you tried some polyps but what else?? Depending on what corals your trying to keep will make a difference.
What kind of flow do you have in the tank? for example any powerheads?
I saw you tried some polyps but what else?? Depending on what corals your trying to keep will make a difference.
What kind of flow do you have in the tank? for example any powerheads?
monkeysee1
Member
Hi Flex!
What's your tank flow? What do you have for power heads in that 24 gallon, anyway?
Corals are tough to keep, ESPECIALLY the LPS and SPS ones!
Many softies are tricky to keep too (i.e. - the Chili, Orange Carnations- just to name a few).
You need decent flow for them to have half a chance!
Some corals like STRONG lighting, Flex while others DO NOT!
You need to really read up on the ones you're considering, before buying them!
What's your tank flow? What do you have for power heads in that 24 gallon, anyway?
Corals are tough to keep, ESPECIALLY the LPS and SPS ones!
Many softies are tricky to keep too (i.e. - the Chili, Orange Carnations- just to name a few).
You need decent flow for them to have half a chance!
Some corals like STRONG lighting, Flex while others DO NOT!
You need to really read up on the ones you're considering, before buying them!
i don't really know what type of rock or sand i have. it all came with the tank when i bought it. The brand of the light is sea star and there led's. AS far as flow i really don't have any power heads , when i bought the tank the guy who sold it to me said he upgraded the pump to a stronger one which would give enough flow for the corals.I really did care cause i never thought of having any corals lol. I bought my corals from private sellers and i told them i was a beginner with corals so they recommended me to soft corals as they said their the easiest to keep. this is what i have , mushrooms, zoas ,i have a small kanya tree hasn't grown and toadstool mushroom, and I've had jasmin polyps but died already. i been having the corals for about 2 month now in between those 2 months i lost pulsing Xenia and some zoas .
Betaktical
New member
Yesssss terrible!!!! Unless you have the fridge hooked up to a reverse osmosis system your dosing chlorine and that is toxic to everything in your tank!!!!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
RogueGrown
New member
25% water change a month may not be enough. Do you have a water test kit? The main reason for a water change is to help reduce your nitrates, and if you're keeping corals water changes help replenish trace minerals that the corals are feeding on. The store bought water is fine but in time will be very costly for you, and the water from the fridge isn't filtered enough for your small ocean. Have you looked into buying a RODI system? If you get one you can mix your own salt water and keep a small reservoir of RO water for your top offs.
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
RogueGrown
New member
Also I forgot to mention... if you can't get the RO system right now you can always used distilled water for your top offs as well, the stuff is pretty cheap.
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
RogueGrown
New member
Marine depot and bulk reef supply both have very popular RODI systems. As far as dosing things like that, again you're going to want a test kit to make sure you are dosing proper amounts. If you haven't got a kit I wouldn't risk adding stuff to the tank till you have one.
And there is no such thing as dumb or stupid questions!!! We have these forums for our hobbies to help others and ourselves grow in our various interests. If you're unsure of something don't hesitate to ask, there's always someone somewhere that's been there done that, that are more than willing to share experiences.
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
RogueGrown
New member
Most of those water stations outside the stores are spring water for our drinking. Not sure how good the quality would be for your aquarium.
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
JMorris271
New member
Where are You? Perhaps there is a local Reef Club where they can help you out managing the coral
I stay in southern california
There are many many issues you have here and they basically stem from a lack of knowledge and bad advice. There is really too much to address on an issue by issue basis since they are all interrelated.
I would suggest you head over to YouTube and start watching 52 Weeks of Reefing on the BRS feed. It is excellent and takes you from the very start all the way through to SPS care.
Here is the link for Week 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKEXNIhomGs
Hope that helps
I would suggest you head over to YouTube and start watching 52 Weeks of Reefing on the BRS feed. It is excellent and takes you from the very start all the way through to SPS care.
Here is the link for Week 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKEXNIhomGs
Hope that helps
